by Eve Langlais
She wagged a finger at him. “Clothes are easy to replace, but the gadgets I had to keep you safe, the things that blew up in the car yesterday, plus some of the stuff I had upstairs, are gone. If we go on this trip, then we’ll be going in at a disadvantage.” She’d lost her favorite gun to the explosion. Her knife, however, was in the pre-packed suitcase, along with her compact and lipstick combo, her shoes and her hair comb/lock pick. But the other toys she’d counted on—the listening devices, the poison pen, and other cool things Harry had sent her with wouldn’t be easily replaced.
“You seem to forget I have connections. We might not have those items for the trip itself, but we’ll manage until Harry can get us some new equipment. And if he can’t, then we’ll make do.”
“Why are you so keen on taking this trip?” she asked.
Darren rolled his shoulders. “Because.”
Marcus snorted. “Tell her the real reason.”
Darren’s lips flattened.
“Well?” Marcus sighed. “What he won’t admit is he’s curious. The whole thing has this big air of mystery around it, and he’s intrigued.”
“So what if I am? Whoever we’re dealing with has money. And they know things. I’d be stupid to turn down an opportunity to see what they want.”
“He has a death wish, doesn’t he?” she asked Marcus.
“I am very much interested in living, but I’m also not going to become a paranoid shut-in.”
“If you die, I’m blaming you,” Kacy muttered. “It’s going on my report that you ignored good advice.”
“If I live, expect a bonus. Because we are going on this trip. Oh, and just to make it more tempting for you…” Darren smiled. “Apparently, the person who’s behind the assassination attempts will be there.”
She paused by the window, keeping watch outside. “How do you know that?”
“I have my sources.”
“From who?” she asked as she whirled to face him.
The only reply was an enigmatic smile as her client shut himself in the bedroom.
“He can’t do that.” She glared at the closed door. “He has to tell me.”
“Darren will tell you when he’s ready. And he’s not going to change his mind about this trip.”
“He’ll find it hard to go if I break both his legs.”
Marcus laughed. “He’s never let that stop him before. He had me wheeling his ass around at the Super Bowl a few years ago rather than give up his boxed seats after a skiing incident.”
“How does he think he can make this trip work?” She pointed to her dirty garments. “We look like refugees. No pilot worth his salt, even a privately chartered one, will let us on board like this.”
“Nothing a shower and a change of clothes won’t fix. I brought the suitcases in from the house.” He waved to them. “Easy enough to clean up and get changed.”
“Easy for you to say, those are your things. None of the shit in that case is mine, though.”
“Then keep your dirty jeans.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? I think you look rather nice.”
He what? The compliment took her off guard, and she blamed her lack of sleep on the blush igniting her cheeks. “I look like a street thug.” Whereas Marcus looked…big, bold, sexy. His bottoms rode low on his hips, but ignoring that vee angling down from his waist meant noticing the wide expanse of his chest.
“I’ve never wanted to kiss a thug before.”
She couldn’t have said who was more shocked. Him, because the red in his cheeks showed he’d not meant to say it, or her, because she wanted him to prove it.
“We can’t get involved. The safety of the client comes first.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have said that.” He dropped his gaze.
And she couldn’t help an odd disappointment at his retraction.
“Ah, fuck it.” He moved so fast, she didn’t have time to react, his arms wrapping around her and lifting her off her feet.
Before she could exclaim, “What are you doing?” he showed her.
More like he kissed her. He slanted his hard mouth across hers with a sizzling need that ignited her own passion—an arousal that had simmered below the surface since they’d met. Was it only days ago? Because it felt longer.
Felt right.
For a moment, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the embrace. She opened her mouth against the persistent probe of his tongue. Sighed against his mouth as he let his tongue twine intimately with hers.
Felt red-cheeked embarrassment as the client opened his door and said, “Our ride will be here at eight, which only gives us a few hours to rest. Carry on.”
No, they wouldn’t carry on. Because it shouldn’t have happened.
She pushed against Marcus’s wide chest, and for a moment, his hold on her tightened before loosening.
He set her on the floor.
To avoid temptation, she took a step back. Inhaled a deep breath. And then slugged him.
“Don’t ever do that again.”
Because she wasn’t sure she had the willpower to say no if he did.
Chapter Thirteen
Kacy still wouldn’t talk to him.
Or look at him.
Little pint tried to pretend she didn’t notice him at all.
It stroked Marcus’s ego to know she was very aware of him.
It scared the fuck out of him that he was only too aware of her, as well.
Currently, he sat behind the wheel of the car that had shown up at the house right at eight o’clock on the dot. A car that drove itself.
Marcus didn’t trust it, hence his spot behind the wheel, and yet, he quickly learned that whatever controlled it wouldn’t let him override. He could only hope they didn’t crash.
Kacy sat in the back with his boss. Clean and dressed in clothes they’d found in the car. The packages neatly labeled with each of their names. The sizes inside perfect. The clothes… Well, that turned out to be interesting.
Marcus got a black T-shirt labeled Security with black khakis and boots. There was even underwear and socks for him, plus all his favorite toiletries.
For Darren, a casual suit in a crisp gray linen—no tie—also perfectly fitted and of quality fabric. It didn’t come off any rack.
As for Kacy, hers came with a girly dress in a bright floral pattern, strappy heels, no bra, and… “A fucking G-string?” She held up the dental floss and twirled it on her finger, her expression aghast.
Marcus couldn’t help but murmur for her ears only, “You don’t have to wear it. I’m going commando.”
Totally worth the red in her cheeks.
As to why they wore the clothing, it came with a typed note.
Shame about the fire. Please accept this token as a gift. We look forward to seeing you.
Darren thought it might be rude to refuse the present. Kacy didn’t trust it and insisted on running her fingers along every seam, looking for anything out of place.
But the clothes appeared safe enough, and so they dressed in their new clothes, completely mystified as to how the person knew they needed them and had managed to get such a perfect fit in such a short time.
As soon as they got into the car, the doors locked, starting a mild panic from the passengers, especially once the vehicle started moving. Okay, Marcus and Kacy panicked; Darren sat back with a cool smile.
“Chill. Let’s see where it takes us.”
The Zen attitude brought scowls to little pint’s and Marcus’s faces but…what other choice did they have? Shooting out the windows could backfire if they were bulletproof and the shot ricocheted.
The car purred, the electric engine a low hum as the car sped along the roads, keeping to within one mile of the speed limit, avoiding obstacles and even passing slow-moving traffic.
They were now on their way to… Well, they didn’t actually know where they were going yet. The assumption was an airfield, but given the subterfuge thus far, it was anyone’s gue
ss at this point.
Of more interest, the car appeared to have no listening devices. Despite her bitching, Kacy hadn’t lost all her toys after all. Her purse had survived the chaos, the explosion that blew out the doors having tossed the leather handbag out into the hall.
Kacy had clutched it to her chest when Marcus presented it to her.
Upon seeing the car, she’d immediately scanned it for electronics. However, other than the onboard navigation system that drove the car, she could find so sign of anyone looking or listening.
And even if they were, it was becoming more and more evident that whoever planned this secret trip knew things about them all, including Kacy’s role in it because, amongst her toiletries was a holster and a new handgun.
“Tell me everything you know about this person who contacted you about this trip.” As the car took them to destinations unknown, Kacy questioned Darren.
“They’re rich. They know about me. And I am not the only one they invited.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.” Darren bestowed the same enigmatic words and smile on Kacy that he had on Marcus when he’d first informed him of the trip.
“You do realize this could be a trap.”
“Seems like an awful lot of trouble to arrange this kind of transportation just for a simple kill.”
“Then maybe they want you for ransom.”
“Who would pay it?” Darren shrugged. “Certainly not my company. If I die, the company will be split up among the shareholders. Any assets outside it will be donated to charity.”
“Then what do you have that this person wants?”
He shrugged. “That’s what I intend to find out.”
“If you don’t think they want you dead, then why the hit on your life? Surely you know of some reason someone would want you dead. A business adversary? Ex-lover? Someone you cut off in traffic?”
“I thought we’d ascertained already it was academy related.”
“But why? You’re not an academy graduate.”
“How much did Harry tell you about me?”
“Not much.” Her tone expressed her displeasure. “All I really know is that you’re Harry’s friend, and he thinks you’re some kind of important shit. Important enough that he wanted me to guard your ass.”
“Important shit.” Darren’s lips twitched. “You could say that.”
“What does your company do that’s so important?”
He grinned as he replied. “This and that.”
She gave him the eye, the evil eye, the look all women seemed to know. Marcus had rarely experienced it, but he could feel the power from where he sat.
Under its force, Darren caved. “I’m part of Thorne Enterprises.”
“The Thorne Enterprises?” She arched a brow. “Big name. Big company. What’s your job with them?”
Marcus snorted. “Try king of it all.”
“You own Thorne?”
He shrugged. “Yes, but I doubt that’s why someone placed a contract on my life.”
“Have you seen the contract? What are the terms?”
“Why bother asking now?” Marcus turned around in his seat, even if it felt wrong with the car in motion.
“Because now I want the full details. What happened last night…” She shook her head. “That was more than just an assassination attempt. Whoever wants Darren dead is willing to kill other people who get in their way. Willing to make a mess. That’s not usual.”
“What is usual?” Marcus asked.
“Sniper shots. Poison. A bomb. Even the natural gas poisoning would be in character. But having a gunman on the premises? Plus, the elimination of other employees?” Employees that Marcus had found—dead of gunshot wounds—and disposed of in the swamp. “That’s taking a hit pretty damned far.”
“Marcus, do you still have a screenshot of the offer?” Darren asked with good reason since the original post had disappeared from the Dark Web. Which didn’t mean the original buyer had pulled the deal. More than likely, they’d gotten enough offers that someone would get the job done.
Marcus shook his wrist and, a moment later, handed his watch over the seat. She grabbed it and growled when it wouldn’t unlock.
He reached between the seats and pressed his finger against the screen.
“It’s in the gallery,” he offered, withdrawing his hand.
She stroked the screen as she flipped to it. It didn’t take her long to read the short post and frown. “It’s a general call asking for the death of someone called Dominus.” She looked over at Darren. “That’s you?”
“Yes. It’s my code name.”
Realization dawned on her face. “You’re academy trained?”
He nodded.
“You don’t look it.”
Marcus almost snickered at the disparagement inherent in the statement.
“Because I only did a partial training.”
“Flunked out.” Her smirk couldn’t be hidden.
He shook his head. “Not exactly. My academy lessons only had a small focus on the physical. I had other pressing matters that I needed to be taught.”
“Like?”
“I can’t tell. Academy secrets.” Darren shrugged. “Suffice it to say, I know of the academy and the fact that you and Harry and countless others were trained there.”
“Marcus, too?”
Sitting in the front but listening in, Marcus shook his head. “No. I am the product of our military program.”
“That explains a lot,” she muttered. To Darren, she said, “Why would they come after you? You said it yourself, you’re not the usual kind of graduate.”
“Because I’m something more. What do you know of the Secundus Academy and its founders?”
She shrugged. “Not much other than some rich dude created it. Perhaps they taught its history at school, but I had this habit of sleeping through classes that bored me.”
“That sounds familiar.” Marcus had done the same thing. “When my teacher gave me detention and asked me why I had no interest in our past, I told him dead people couldn’t affect the future.”
At that, Kacy snickered. “Mine said the past repeated itself, and I told him I disagreed. People are the ones who keep fucking up over and over. As far as I can tell, history doesn’t teach anyone any lessons.”
“Two peas in a fucking pod,” Darren remarked. “And you both might be right, but in this case, the history of the academy is important, especially since not many people know the story. Let me ask, if you had to guess, why do you think the academy was created?”
“To have an army of specialists so the founder of it could rule the world.”
“Ruling the world sounds like a lot of work,” Marcus remarked from the front.
“You’ve got that right.” Darren laughed. “And no, the school wasn’t created for such an enormous purpose. The original founder of the school was rich, that much is true, but it might surprise you to learn that he was the most non-violent man you could ever meet. Perhaps he ran his businesses with a bit of a strict fist, but he was fair with his employees. Rewarded hard work. People respected him. But, as with anyone who makes money, there are some who envy it. Who don’t want to put in the hard work. Who think the world owes them. Who think they own the world.”
“I’ve met those kinds of people.” Her lips turned down, and Marcus wondered whom Darren’s description had made her think of. “Someone shook down the rich dude.”
“Indeed. They demanded money. A lot of it. Claimed if he wanted to stay in business, then he needed to pay up…or else. Being a man of principle, the man said no. The gang vandalized his place of business, so he went to the police. The police, bribed and scared of the gang, said ‘sorry we can’t help you. Pay up.’”
“But he didn’t want to pay.”
Kacy took the words right out of Marcus’s brain. Because people with morals couldn’t understand people who didn’t have any. They didn’t realize that being right w
asn’t enough.
“He refused to pay them. Told them they could vandalize as much as they wanted but he would rebuild and never give in. So the gang killed his wife.”
“So he built the academy to create an army to protect him.”
Darren shook his head. “Not exactly. Initially, he wanted revenge. In his grief, he wanted to make someone pay. Despite the obvious murder of his wife, the cops would do nothing. The law wouldn’t help him, and so he decided to take care of it himself, a man who’d never fired a gun in his life. He went after the gang with a revolver he’d bought.”
“And he killed them? I find that hard to believe. Only in the movies do inexperienced good guys beat the bad ones.”
Actually, not entirely true. Marcus had seen it happen overseas. Just not often.
“Not a single one of those killers died. Instead, they beat the ever loving shit out of the man. But they didn’t kill him. They left him alive and told him to pay up, or they’d start killing his children. However, the man became angry at the threat to his children’s lives. He didn’t want to bow down to crooks. To give in to blackmail. He realized that it would never stop. So he went out and hired his own gang. Gave them twice as much money as the gang demanded.”
“Because it was never about money. He just wanted revenge.”
“He did, and then the same people he hired tried to blackmail him. Because, you see, career thieves and killers have no loyalty to anyone but themselves. And the man thought, ‘this isn’t right. How can we fight against this?’ He found the answer in the strangest place. In a bar where he got drunk and met a man named Kringle.”
“Kringle. As in Sergeant Kringle?” Kacy’s expression brightened.
“The very same.”
“He trained me at the academy. He’s a tough old bastard.”
“He is. As you know, Kringle used to be a military sniper. He killed so many people, and yet he didn’t sink into the darkness that seduces many. The man asked him, ‘why did you stop?’”
“You stop because a true soldier doesn’t kill for no reason.” Marcus uttered the answer, and she tossed him a sharp look. He’d learned that lesson in the military. Those who didn’t got discharged or sent to serve on the front lines.